As a telecommunications engineer, is such a joy to watch your videos, you teach some very complex topics with such a simple explanation, I wish I knew you during my college time. Thank you for your videos.
Brilliant video I am a retired science teacher and have been a ham more than 50 years. I just bought my first VNA. You clearly explain the device and its calibration and use. A lot easier to follow than most explanations I have read.
I've worked with frequencies up to many GHz for many years and have used but never fully understood Smith charts. Thanks to you, I now do. Your method of explaining a very complex subject in very simple terms is most entertaining. WELL DONE.
Well done. I am an engineer, but my speciality was RF. I was an RF engineer and still have HP and a Anritsu Network analyzers. Unfortunately i suffer pretty bad from MS now and i am disabled, but RF was my favorite thing. You did a very goid job explaining the basics on VNA’s. Bravo. I enjoy your channel very much. My friend, mentor and hero in the RF and antenna world passed away this year. His name was Richard (Dick) Austin. He was well known in the US for his ham radio antennas. He also made antennas for lockhead martin, GE, Boeing and more. He was building antennae until his death this Feb at age 85. He taught me so much. He is missed. You made me think about him. Thank you. Bob S.
Thank you for your compliment. It means a lot to me if I read such things from professionals. RF these days is no more so "sexy" as it was in earlier days. This is the reason I made this and other videos about antennas and also SDR receivers. Young people at least should know the basics. And I am not sure if RF is in the curriculum of a typical EE degree anymore. You were lucky to have such a teacher!
Thank you for this video, I am a new ham and am trying to build antennas. I purchased a NanoVNA thinking it would be easy to use and help with building antennas. I was ignorant and built them poorly. I tried to read up on the NanoVNA as well as Smith Charts and ended up confusing myself greatly. Thanks to your video I now understand how to use my equipment properly and read a Smith Chart. I can't thank you enough.
Great video, thank you! Sometimes dudes with >$50k VNAs cannot cover the basics at the level of clarity you did. Great explanation on the Smith Chart. While the magnitude of S11 can tell you that things went wrong, the impedance tells you the exact direction of where they go wrong.
As an ‘old ham’ who only ever used SWR meters to check out an aerial, This video is simply amazing as to just what the Nano can do, always thought this sort of equipment was out of my price range, I’m blown away, Thank you so much for such a well presented and very informative video. Take care, 😃👍
These instruments were out of range for me, too. This is why I love to live now. We can afford a lot of good stuff and have fun with it :-) It is really astonishing.
Reminds me of when I was in Uni, using old VNA's to tune open-air harmonic transformer coils. This video could be an introduction to the other parameters one uses in electrical engineering (y, h, z, g...). Maybe even explore the stability of such systems, quite advanced stuff though, not sure everyone knows about control theory. As always another great video.
What a marvelous & concise demo & tutorial. Your presentation of moving the cursor by changing the input really helps many people visualize what, exactly, is happening. Excellent video Sir, & a tip of my hat to you !
I've never watched a better video of this type. I enjoyed every second of it. If I had teachers like you during my schooling days, I would've been a straight A student.
As a budding ham the concepts and terminologies have been baffling, and after wandering the corridors of antenna information stumbled into your lecture space on VNA. Your explanation of the Nano was so clearly expressed I departed with a solid understanding of the device and its application...much appreciated.
I have watched this video a few times and found it to be a very useful reference work. Especially if you, like me, come from a non technical background and are learning in your later years. I understand the principles now and feel I can use my basic, original type nano VNA properly. Thanks for taking the time to make this video.
@@AndreasSpiess That's how I found it. I have a AIM 4170D single port to (10 KHz to 180MHz and bought the NANO V2-F to extend the range and get a 2 port device. What I found is that there is a fairly good comparison but, as expected, the AIM unit is accurate enough to actually help tune "things" (like tweaking a filter or an antenna) while the NANO not so much. The AIM information matched several other test instruments while the NANO frequency measurement was off by several KHz (in 3-30MHz range) even though calibrated for as narrow as possible. Still a useful quick see tool for the cost. If you would like to see data get me your email and I'll send Excel and Graphical data.
I love my VNA --- electronic hobbiest and Ham radio operator. I made my first two UHF yagis, designed, and tuned them in an unorthodox manner - pure experimental.
Great video! I've been playing around with mine and am pleasantly surprised given its price. Regarding 2:45 a "signal Analyzer" gets phase info, a "spectrum Analyzer" does not.
Glad you know it now! Everything seems to go wireless, but sometimes basic knowledge is not there. RF basics are also not taught at universities anymore. At least for the general EEs
This is really well done. I am not an electrical engineer, not even close, but you clearly lay out what this device can do and how to do it so even a layman like me can leverage the tool. Many thanks!
I shared your video with my fellow classmates. I have gone through a electromagnetics course with RF focus, yet your video simplified it for me that much more! Thank you for this amazing piece!
I got a kick out of your VSWR comment. I am both an RF engineer and a ham. Before I retired I had to constantly switch gears about impedance matching depending on who I was talking to. In my experience most people working with antennas tend toward VSWR where engineers working on integrated systems talk return loss. My own preference is return loss because for some reason I am better able to envision it. VSWR is a dimensionless ratio whereas return loss is an actual measurement of how much power is being reflected back into the system. Last company I worked for actually reported both VSWR and return loss for their products.
It's the first time, I have seen the an simple and graphic explanation of the relation between Smith Chart - SWR and what the VNA does. Thank you very much!!
I ran across this while watching Alan's (W2AEW) videos and found it very worth my time to watch it. I believe I may watch it a second and third time...Thank You!
I am back watching this video again. I like the flow of this and the balance of theory and practical. Thanks for your video! I am amazed that I can even have a network analyzer for home use. The ones we used to use at work were thousands of dollars.
Endlich hab ich das Smithchart verstanden. Sehr schöne Erklärung. Ich werde jetzt öfter meinen vna kalibrieren. Ich glaube man kann auch Resonatoren mit dem nanovna messen. Ich dachte ich hätte einen Saw Filter aber es war ein saw resonator, da er im nanovna keine Dämpfungskurve anzeigte, sondern nur eine gerade, aber der swr war nur am der resonatorfrequenz perfekt und im restlichen Bereich sehr schlecht, was ja auch hilft andere Frequenzen zu blocken.
Filter haben am Eingang normalerweise ein schlechtes SWR für Frequenzen die sie sperren. Wichtig ist ja der Output... Allan hat ein Video gemacht wo er Quarze ausmisst.
Tuning out the reactance in real time on a Smith Chart was so cool! I would almost buy one for that... What I would have given for one of those 40 years ago. But the Bird 43 directional wattmeter was great at its job
Great video, I love it! I'm teaching the working principles of a VNA to EE students at the university, and since COVID prevents offline courses, I'm using the NanoVNA with NanoVNA Saver to demonstrate the matching process of an antenna and the basic functionality of the device. Although your measurement with the Nagoya antenna shows that the SWR is over 2, your measurement is not carried out properly if we consider that it shall be used with a handheld radio. The radio's body plays a significant role in the radiation characteristics, so the proper measurement would be done in an anechoic chamber with the antenna attached to the radio. Not everyone has such a chamber at their workplace, so what you can do it the Amateur way: Take the radio and and an antenna with known gain reference antenna attached to a spectrum analyzer and go out on the field with a known distance between the 2 devices. You know the output power of the radio(or measure it), subtract the path loss and the receiver gain from it and then you have the 0dB gain reference level on the spectrum analyzer. With that knowledge you can calculate the radiated power, which is the REAL information that we need. I hope this idea helps someone in the future. :)
You are right. I even did a video on how to test antennas in the real world, without an anechoic chamber. But this was not the point in this video. I just wanted to show the match. If everything is rejected, also a high gain will not help ;-)
@@AndreasSpiess Thank you Andreas - that means a lot to me, coming from you. I hope my channel is as popular as yours someday! (you have twice as many subscribers!).
Your channel is excellent w2aew, I hope your subscriber base grows, it deserves to given the quality of the information you produce! The guy with the Swiss accent also has some great stuff :-)
Great explanation of why we need to calibrate when the frequencies change. I'm preparing a test equipment presentation for an amateur radio club and this helps as I am not that familiar with VNAs.
Wonderful explanation. I feel like I need you on retainer to explain stuff to me. I do not work with any radio signals. I use scopes as an industrial emergency power tech and watch a ton of scope related content . I think this is why the device popped in my feed and sparked my curiosity. Having OCD with needing to understand stuff I found your video after watching about 20 with no help. The demonstration of inductance and capacitance "resonated " with me because I deal with power actor issues from motor loads and VFD drives. I also have to use power factor correction on datacenters . The swift chart is pretty cool. I only understand it now thanks to you!
We had a lengthy discussion on our ham radio net last night about nano VNA's, i asserted exactly what you said, but not in the great detail you did. This video explains it very well and accuratly, so I will pass it on to them. Your presentation was excellent, and I had to play with mine while watching, the RF demo board is also a MUST HAVE for learning the VNA, their great for measuring crystals, traps, lots. thanks, Barry VK2FP/AG7VC
Well explained, especially Smith charts which are frightening things that should be introduced to students with care. I found my V2 worked to 4 GHz and is quite usable for setting up 3.4 GHz 9cm antennas. You could use it to look at your POTY and figure out how it works.
I looked at it when I built my POTY. It did not expose the two dips described by others. This is why I was worried in the beginning. Now I still struggle with the Ethernet connection of my Pluto...
Not only an excellent easily digested appraisal of these VNA's, but also a great intro to the Smiths Chart by bringing it to life - THANK YOU so much! :)
Thanks for hammering on calibration! I've seen videos that say you calibrate once and you're done forever... My BS meter immediately pegged and bent the needle... 👍
Spectacular video!!! I understand smith charts much better now. Also, I now know what the second channel on my Nano-VMA is for. Thank you for all your works!!!
Das ist eins der besten, verständlichsten Erklärung zum/des NanoVNA die man hier finden kann. Zum allerersten mal verstehe ich was eigentlich gemeint ist. Leider habe ich dein Video erst jetzt entdeckt; möchte mich aber trotzdem sehr für deine verständlichen Erklärungen bedanken..! 👍 🙏 🤝 VG, Holger
Just received my NanoVNA V2 in the mail today. I have to say, watching your videos is starting to get really expensive for me! It started with the wire wrapping set and now I just can't stop myself from buying up bloody near everything, because it's all so cool. Oh well, let's just call this one an early christmass present for myself. But I can't wait to make my own lora antennas that don't actually suck, unlike those coiled wire ones from china,
Bravo! Now I absolutely must purchase one. 2 Suggestions: 1-You introduced the SOLT (thru) calibration a bit too quickly for me. I didn't understand it until the review at the end. 2-Drop the "Byyyye". Change to "adiós" for a sophisticated sound. :)
His videos are always well done. Very professional and informative. Most of the other RUclips videos about antennas are made by guys that are horrible presenters that take a long time to explain anything.
Perferct :) I am working on a DIY project of homecinema powered by 3 class D amplifiers modules. These amplifiers can be linked using a master/slave clock. The problem was impedance matching of the clock line linking these 3 amplifiers. I will be able to check that everything is fine now :)
Someone may have already added this, but regarding the NanoVNA-saver software you can have it run more than the built-in number of sample points. My NanoVNA only does 100 points. I usually do my measurements with 1000 points, though. For that, the NanoVNA-saver program splits the frequency range I entered (and calibrated for) up into 10 segments and then commands the NanoVNA to run each segment from low to high. The NanoVNA itself can only do 100 points, but the NanoVNA-saver software compiles data from the ten segments together, recalculates everything, and displays the results. I'm not fond of the small NanoVNA screen anyway, so I usually use a laptop running NanoVNA-saver. I get to do screen captures and make printouts as well.
Another thing that I've learned from Senior EEs, always make sure your equipment has warmed up for 30 mins to an hour before calibration or use! You don't want internal temperature drift of the test equipment to ruin your measurements!
I always like your videos as they are easy to understand and very systematic. I would be very happy if you can make videos on how to tune: - Antenna which is soldered directly to the PCB (no connector/socket) - antenna cable with its connector on both ends (Pl 259 / SO 239 or else than SMA) Thanks you so much in advance.
Excellent video and has answered so many questions. I am learning by watching as many videos as I can with the end goal to tune a chip antenna connected to an ESP32. A video where it shows adding capacitors and indictors to improve the antenna performance would be the best.
Best is always to tweak the antenna instead of adding parts... I would go with the instructions of the supplier. And google for "PCB Antenna - How To Design, Measure And Tune" on RUclips.
Thank you Andreas for this very helpful video! Now I understand the smith-diagram and ordered the hf-demo-kit test board. Very good explanation and easy to understand!
EXCELLENT introduction to the nano VNA, & one of the best & simplest explanations I've seen on the use of a Smith chart. Thank you, Andreas! I'll be ordering a nano VNA shortly. ;)
Thank you Andreas for this excellent video. You present topics in a clear and concise manner that make it easy to understand. We need a Kahn Academy for ham radio. Andreas Academy!
Thanks Andreas, now hovering over the buy button as it looks fascinating, and I have one old router antennae (salvage) I want to use on a D1 mini pro to see if I can boost the wifi reception....
You're a good teacher...RF Engineers still say VSWR (pron. viswar) for antenna line tests btw.. at the least the ones with more than 10 years experience...Return loss is more used for PIM testing results... i think...at least in North America
Love your videos Andreas. I supervise a 1 megawatt TV transmission station in the United States. And although your video says we would use the term "Return Loss", trust me when I say our equipment is labeled "VSWR" and we pronounce it "viz-waar".
Interesting! I do not like your pronounciation because it sounds like "pissoir", a mens toilet in French (and Swiss German). That is why I do not use it ;-)
That's funny. I have heard that french before. I'm getting started with Meshtastic and I'm going to put a T beam on a 180 ft tower. If that goes well, I may end up putting another on a tower that goes all the way up to 2,000 ft off the ground. I wonder though, is there a point where putting a node that high hits a point of diminishing returns.
Excellent presentation. But I would point out 2 general things anout antenna measurement. When measuring small unbalanced HT-style antennas, the physical dimensions of the metallic structure they are attached to WILL affect measurements. In addition, good measured return loss/SWR is no guarantee of good radiation performance. If that were true, a dummy load would be a superb antenna! Characterising overall antenna performance is NOT an easy task!
I've had one of these for a few months and it's handy for a lot of radio-related things. The only application I've stumbled over that's way outside its range is the video antennas on my mini FPV quadcopter. Those run around 5Ghz and the antennas get pretty dinged up during crashes. It would be nice to be able to pop them off and do a little re-tune from time to time instead of blindly bending it back till it "looks right" again.
I know nothing about antennas. The little I know Im learning from you . Thank you. I am trying to build a v-dipole to receive noaa Satellites images. My reception so far is terrible. not to say none. What I discover so far using the VNA is that the reflection and the swr change with the position of the antenna... Not an easy task to adjust it...
I cannot believe that a bad SWR is responsible for non-reception. I would search also in other areas. And yes, antenna properties change with the environment.
Good explanation on VNA use. Alot cheaper than R&S equipment,makes it ideal for the hobbyist. My first HP VNA 3Ghz cost £6k 15 years ago,shows how technology and cost as improved. VNA for 5G operating at 26GHz and 39Ghz £40K upwards!!
Thank you. We should not directly compare those professional tools with these VNAs, I think. They have their markets. But for us Makers, these cheap buggers can answer most of our questions.
Just watched this as I purchased a cheap nanovna version 1 from aliexpress I ordered it before I realised there was a better version available Still it should be good enough for my needs for now
I have a MiniVNA and i'm quite happy with it. Helped me to optimize some PCB designs in the past. Did not know about that RF-Demo PCB tho, that is definately something i need to get for a better calibration option on the u.FL connector side of my adapter cables.
Thank you Andreas as this cleared up a lot of things. The calibration issue worries me however as adapters are needed in most every case, Im not certain how one would know what or how a correction factor/s are used and/or needed to get accurate results.
Extremely useful video. I finally learned what a Smith Chart measures! Very clear explanations and though I don't have use for a NanoVNA currently, it's amazing what this $50 device can do!
I am glad you coverd this aspect. I was thinking of purchasing the NanoVna 2 but the new version with N connectors was released so I was not sure which one is better :)
@@AndreasSpiess the N connectors are preferred as they are more sturdy and can be used in the fields without any fear of breaking off the small SMA connectors from the PCB.
Excellent video! So much practical information provided. Thank you! Btw. just got myself a LibreVNA, will have some fun after I grasp fundamentals like the ones you talked about.
Thank you Andreas this information was extremely valuable and wonderfully put. You give the basic information that is required to understand the units. I have not found anything else like this!!👀⭐️⭐️⭐️
Nice video and very good explanation! Only let me point out a small mistake: when you measure in a frequency range at 10:45 you say that you see a curve in the Smith chart because capacitors and inductors change with frequency. It would be more accurate to say that their IMPEDANCE change with frequency. You will observe that curve even if C and L are independent of frequency.
Extremely interesting video, I learned a lot, thank you! I will use my NanoVNA more efficiently :-) I also use it for measuring cable loss by connecting them between 1.1 and 2.1.
Very good job Mister Andreas !. However one important point is missing...(I've not yet read the 215 comments already posted): what about the dBm levels sent on Port 1 and the max level allowed on port2 ? Some people may try to use this small device for testing an LNA and ruin the Port2 Input. A short advice on these points would have been welcome.
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As a telecommunications engineer, is such a joy to watch your videos, you teach some very complex topics with such a simple explanation, I wish I knew you during my college time. Thank you for your videos.
Thank you! I read the comment about the college times not for the first time ;-)
Brilliant video I am a retired science teacher and have been a ham more than 50 years. I just bought my first VNA. You clearly explain the device and its calibration and use. A lot easier to follow than most explanations I have read.
Thank you. If you are a HAM maybe my second channel is interesting for you (ruclips.net/channel/UCQwyP4Yd0-O49e05kMUJgQQ )?
I've worked with frequencies up to many GHz for many years and have used but never fully understood Smith charts. Thanks to you, I now do.
Your method of explaining a very complex subject in very simple terms is most entertaining. WELL DONE.
Thank you very much for your kind words! They mean a lot to me because you know the topic.
Well done. I am an engineer, but my speciality was RF. I was an RF engineer and still have HP and a Anritsu Network analyzers. Unfortunately i suffer pretty bad from MS now and i am disabled, but RF was my favorite thing. You did a very goid job explaining the basics on VNA’s. Bravo. I enjoy your channel very much. My friend, mentor and hero in the RF and antenna world passed away this year. His name was Richard (Dick) Austin. He was well known in the US for his ham radio antennas. He also made antennas for lockhead martin, GE, Boeing and more. He was building antennae until his death this Feb at age 85. He taught me so much. He is missed. You made me think about him. Thank you. Bob S.
Thank you for your compliment. It means a lot to me if I read such things from professionals. RF these days is no more so "sexy" as it was in earlier days. This is the reason I made this and other videos about antennas and also SDR receivers. Young people at least should know the basics. And I am not sure if RF is in the curriculum of a typical EE degree anymore.
You were lucky to have such a teacher!
Thank you for this video, I am a new ham and am trying to build antennas. I purchased a NanoVNA thinking it would be easy to use and help with building antennas. I was ignorant and built them poorly. I tried to read up on the NanoVNA as well as Smith Charts and ended up confusing myself greatly. Thanks to your video I now understand how to use my equipment properly and read a Smith Chart. I can't thank you enough.
Antennas never are easy ;-)
Great video, thank you! Sometimes dudes with >$50k VNAs cannot cover the basics at the level of clarity you did. Great explanation on the Smith Chart. While the magnitude of S11 can tell you that things went wrong, the impedance tells you the exact direction of where they go wrong.
Often experts are not the best teachers ;-)
@@AndreasSpiess exactly
As an ‘old ham’ who only ever used SWR meters to check out an aerial, This video is simply amazing as to just what the Nano can do, always thought this sort of equipment was out of my price range, I’m blown away, Thank you so much for such a well presented and very informative video. Take care, 😃👍
These instruments were out of range for me, too. This is why I love to live now. We can afford a lot of good stuff and have fun with it :-) It is really astonishing.
Reminds me of when I was in Uni, using old VNA's to tune open-air harmonic transformer coils. This video could be an introduction to the other parameters one uses in electrical engineering (y, h, z, g...). Maybe even explore the stability of such systems, quite advanced stuff though, not sure everyone knows about control theory. As always another great video.
This is probably how far I will get on this channel... But I thought it is needed. Many nanoVNA video creators do not cover the basics.
What a marvelous & concise demo & tutorial. Your presentation of moving the cursor by changing the input really helps many people visualize what, exactly, is happening. Excellent video Sir, & a tip of my hat to you !
Glad it was helpful!
An excellent and logical presentation as always, making a complex subject clear and understandable. Thank you.
Glad you liked it! Thank you.
I've never watched a better video of this type. I enjoyed every second of it.
If I had teachers like you during my schooling days, I would've been a straight A student.
Thank you for your nice words!
As a budding ham the concepts and terminologies have been baffling, and after wandering the corridors of antenna information stumbled into your lecture space on VNA. Your explanation of the Nano was so clearly expressed I departed with a solid understanding of the device and its application...much appreciated.
Glad the content was helpful. This technology changes a lot for HAMs!
I have watched this video a few times and found it to be a very useful reference work. Especially if you, like me, come from a non technical background and are learning in your later years. I understand the principles now and feel I can use my basic, original type nano VNA properly. Thanks for taking the time to make this video.
Glad it was helpful! And thank you for your feedback.
This is THE place to find out about all VNAs, not just the NANO. Well done and thank you.
Thank you. The "NanoVNA" is to help google find it ;-)
@@AndreasSpiess That's how I found it. I have a AIM 4170D single port to (10 KHz to 180MHz and bought the NANO V2-F to extend the range and get a 2 port device. What I found is that there is a fairly good comparison but, as expected, the AIM unit is accurate enough to actually help tune "things" (like tweaking a filter or an antenna) while the NANO not so much. The AIM information matched several other test instruments while the NANO frequency measurement was off by several KHz (in 3-30MHz range) even though calibrated for as narrow as possible. Still a useful quick see tool for the cost. If you would like to see data get me your email and I'll send Excel and Graphical data.
Very well explained and simple. I love the way you organize "The Lecture". Good teacher! Keep on doing these videos
Thank you! Glad you like it.
I love my VNA --- electronic hobbiest and Ham radio operator. I made my first two UHF yagis, designed, and tuned them in an unorthodox manner - pure experimental.
It became much easier to build such projects. Less guesswork...
A wonderful explanation of the Smith chart I never have seen before!
Thank you again for this splendid lecture.
Thank you for your nice words!
Great video! I've been playing around with mine and am pleasantly surprised given its price.
Regarding 2:45 a "signal Analyzer" gets phase info, a "spectrum Analyzer" does not.
I usually use "Vector Analyzer" for the devices measuring phase, too. What is the difference between a Vector Analyzer and a Signal Analyzer?
That was surprisingly helpful. I didn't even know what vector network analyzers where used for before!
Glad you know it now! Everything seems to go wireless, but sometimes basic knowledge is not there. RF basics are also not taught at universities anymore. At least for the general EEs
This is really well done. I am not an electrical engineer, not even close, but you clearly lay out what this device can do and how to do it so even a layman like me can leverage the tool. Many thanks!
You are welcome! Enjoy your tool.
I shared your video with my fellow classmates. I have gone through a electromagnetics course with RF focus, yet your video simplified it for me that much more! Thank you for this amazing piece!
Glad it was helpful!
I got a kick out of your VSWR comment. I am both an RF engineer and a ham. Before I retired I had to constantly switch gears about impedance matching depending on who I was talking to. In my experience most people working with antennas tend toward VSWR where engineers working on integrated systems talk return loss. My own preference is return loss because for some reason I am better able to envision it. VSWR is a dimensionless ratio whereas return loss is an actual measurement of how much power is being reflected back into the system. Last company I worked for actually reported both VSWR and return loss for their products.
I agree with your observation about antennas. 1:1 is a simple goal there...
It's the first time, I have seen the an simple and graphic explanation of the relation between Smith Chart - SWR and what the VNA does. Thank you very much!!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for the short and precise Smith chart explanation - I think I'll finally remember inductance is up and capacitance is down :)
At least something ;-)
I ran across this while watching Alan's (W2AEW) videos and found it very worth my time to watch it. I believe I may watch it a second and third time...Thank You!
Alan is a source of a lot of good stuff. I watched all his videos ;-)
I am back watching this video again. I like the flow of this and the balance of theory and practical. Thanks for your video! I am amazed that I can even have a network analyzer for home use. The ones we used to use at work were thousands of dollars.
Indeed, we live in an excellent time with all this cheap electronics. The nanoVNA is one of the best things I ever owned!
Endlich hab ich das Smithchart verstanden. Sehr schöne Erklärung. Ich werde jetzt öfter meinen vna kalibrieren. Ich glaube man kann auch Resonatoren mit dem nanovna messen. Ich dachte ich hätte einen Saw Filter aber es war ein saw resonator, da er im nanovna keine Dämpfungskurve anzeigte, sondern nur eine gerade, aber der swr war nur am der resonatorfrequenz perfekt und im restlichen Bereich sehr schlecht, was ja auch hilft andere Frequenzen zu blocken.
Filter haben am Eingang normalerweise ein schlechtes SWR für Frequenzen die sie sperren. Wichtig ist ja der Output... Allan hat ein Video gemacht wo er Quarze ausmisst.
Tuning out the reactance in real time on a Smith Chart was so cool! I would almost buy one for that... What I would have given for one of those 40 years ago. But the Bird 43 directional wattmeter was great at its job
Those Bird Wattmeters still are great for their purpose! But I already said it many times: We live in a wonderful (electronics) time!
I did this talk at our local HAM club (OCARS), but not nearly as well. Well done. Next time I just show your video hi-hi.
A presentation always is better than just a video. So: Well done!
Great video, I love it! I'm teaching the working principles of a VNA to EE students at the university, and since COVID prevents offline courses, I'm using the NanoVNA with NanoVNA Saver to demonstrate the matching process of an antenna and the basic functionality of the device.
Although your measurement with the Nagoya antenna shows that the SWR is over 2, your measurement is not carried out properly if we consider that it shall be used with a handheld radio. The radio's body plays a significant role in the radiation characteristics, so the proper measurement would be done in an anechoic chamber with the antenna attached to the radio. Not everyone has such a chamber at their workplace, so what you can do it the Amateur way:
Take the radio and and an antenna with known gain reference antenna attached to a spectrum analyzer and go out on the field with a known distance between the 2 devices. You know the output power of the radio(or measure it), subtract the path loss and the receiver gain from it and then you have the 0dB gain reference level on the spectrum analyzer. With that knowledge you can calculate the radiated power, which is the REAL information that we need.
I hope this idea helps someone in the future. :)
You are right. I even did a video on how to test antennas in the real world, without an anechoic chamber. But this was not the point in this video. I just wanted to show the match. If everything is rejected, also a high gain will not help ;-)
Nice job! And thank you for the recommendation for my channel.
You are welcome. I am a longtime subscriber of your channel and do not miss one video.
@@AndreasSpiess Thank you Andreas - that means a lot to me, coming from you. I hope my channel is as popular as yours someday! (you have twice as many subscribers!).
You guys are both awesome..you are contributing with great content for the community.
Wishing you good health and happiness 😊
Your channel is excellent w2aew, I hope your subscriber base grows, it deserves to given the quality of the information you produce!
The guy with the Swiss accent also has some great stuff :-)
You guys are both so good at explaining electronics.
Great explanation of why we need to calibrate when the frequencies change. I'm preparing a test equipment presentation for an amateur radio club and this helps as I am not that familiar with VNAs.
VNAs are Perfect for HAMs and it is good if you educate them.
Wonderful explanation. I feel like I need you on retainer to explain stuff to me. I do not work with any radio signals. I use scopes as an industrial emergency power tech and watch a ton of scope related content . I think this is why the device popped in my feed and sparked my curiosity. Having OCD with needing to understand stuff I found your video after watching about 20 with no help. The demonstration of inductance and capacitance "resonated " with me because I deal with power actor issues from motor loads and VFD drives. I also have to use power factor correction on datacenters . The swift chart is pretty cool. I only understand it now thanks to you!
Glad the video was helpful to extend your knowledge a bit. It is always good to know a bit more than the minimum ;-)
Excellent presentation! I just got my nanoVNA today and had never seen a Smith Chart. Now I have an understanding of how to use them. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
We had a lengthy discussion on our ham radio net last night about nano VNA's, i asserted exactly what you said, but not in the great detail you did. This video explains it very well and accuratly, so I will pass it on to them. Your presentation was excellent, and I had to play with mine while watching, the RF demo board is also a MUST HAVE for learning the VNA, their great for measuring crystals, traps, lots. thanks, Barry VK2FP/AG7VC
Glad my video helped for your argumentation ;-)
I’ll join the chorus in saying this is an amazingly good VNA explanation and demonstration.
Thank you!
Well explained, especially Smith charts which are frightening things that should be introduced to students with care. I found my V2 worked to 4 GHz and is quite usable for setting up 3.4 GHz 9cm antennas. You could use it to look at your POTY and figure out how it works.
I looked at it when I built my POTY. It did not expose the two dips described by others. This is why I was worried in the beginning. Now I still struggle with the Ethernet connection of my Pluto...
Not only an excellent easily digested appraisal of these VNA's, but also a great intro to the Smiths Chart by bringing it to life - THANK YOU so much! :)
Glad you liked it!
Thanks for hammering on calibration! I've seen videos that say you calibrate once and you're done forever... My BS meter immediately pegged and bent the needle... 👍
If the conditions do not change and you do not expect too much this is probably ok. Still it is good to understand where you do shortcuts...
Spectacular video!!!
I understand smith charts much better now.
Also, I now know what the second channel on my Nano-VMA is for.
Thank you for all your works!!!
Glad it was helpful!
A Really, really, really good overview of ALL pertinent considerations when using a (digital) VNA. Yes, I started my career using an analogue one!
Thank you for your compliment! It values more because you seem to know what you are talking about :-)
Das ist eins der besten, verständlichsten Erklärung zum/des NanoVNA die man hier finden kann. Zum allerersten mal verstehe ich was eigentlich gemeint ist. Leider habe ich dein Video erst jetzt entdeckt; möchte mich aber trotzdem sehr für deine verständlichen Erklärungen bedanken..! 👍 🙏 🤝 VG, Holger
Vielen Dank für die netten Worte!
Just received my NanoVNA V2 in the mail today. I have to say, watching your videos is starting to get really expensive for me!
It started with the wire wrapping set and now I just can't stop myself from buying up bloody near everything, because it's all so cool. Oh well, let's just call this one an early christmass present for myself. But I can't wait to make my own lora antennas that don't actually suck, unlike those coiled wire ones from china,
The NanoVNA is one of the most used tools here...
Although I bought a NanoVNA-F, the theoretical info in your video is of great value. Thank you so much
Glad it was helpful!
Bravo! Now I absolutely must purchase one.
2 Suggestions: 1-You introduced the SOLT (thru) calibration a bit too quickly for me. I didn't understand it until the review at the end.
2-Drop the "Byyyye". Change to "adiós" for a sophisticated sound. :)
1. This can be the advantage of the "summaries"...
2. The "Bye" became somehow a brand. That is why I kept it...
and: I am sure you will enjoy it!
Great explanation of the Smith chart, the first time I saw one I was intimidated for sure.
Glad you enjoyed it!
So much knowledge in your head! I learn so much, I must see your videos several times to get it! Thank you again Andreas!
You are right, this is not simple stuff!
His videos are always well done. Very professional and informative. Most of the other RUclips videos about antennas are made by guys that are horrible presenters that take a long time to explain anything.
Thank you!
One of the best videos I've seen on what a VNA is and how to use it.
Thank you!
Perferct :) I am working on a DIY project of homecinema powered by 3 class D amplifiers modules.
These amplifiers can be linked using a master/slave clock.
The problem was impedance matching of the clock line linking these 3 amplifiers. I will be able to check that everything is fine now :)
Sounds great! I never worked on audio systems, so I do not know how to measure impedances on such devices.
Someone may have already added this, but regarding the NanoVNA-saver software you can have it run more than the built-in number of sample points. My NanoVNA only does 100 points. I usually do my measurements with 1000 points, though. For that, the NanoVNA-saver program splits the frequency range I entered (and calibrated for) up into 10 segments and then commands the NanoVNA to run each segment from low to high. The NanoVNA itself can only do 100 points, but the NanoVNA-saver software compiles data from the ten segments together, recalculates everything, and displays the results. I'm not fond of the small NanoVNA screen anyway, so I usually use a laptop running NanoVNA-saver. I get to do screen captures and make printouts as well.
You are right with the saver software. And I also do not like the small display. That is why my main device has a 4" screen.
Congratulations for this learning, I just have a shadow area it's the Return Loss and Decibels, thank you again!
You are welcome!
Thank you for no midroll ads on a 25min video! YT must hate you for that :D
I do not know. But I make my videos for my viewers ;-)
Another thing that I've learned from Senior EEs, always make sure your equipment has warmed up for 30 mins to an hour before calibration or use! You don't want internal temperature drift of the test equipment to ruin your measurements!
some devices can compensate such drifts and work fine since min 0 - however most of them don't
This is true!
This was an outstanding video. Understandable and informational. Better than several others that put me to sleep, or confused the snot out of me.
Glad the video was helpful!
One of the best tutorials. Thank you. Good to watch this before using the device for the first time.
Glad it helped
This video is truly excellent! I've seen other videos that provide incomplete and/or altogether incorrect information on the NanoVNAs.
Thank you! Maybe that fact was the reason for this video ;-)
I always like your videos as they are easy to understand and very systematic.
I would be very happy if you can make videos on how to tune:
- Antenna which is soldered directly to the PCB (no connector/socket)
- antenna cable with its connector on both ends (Pl 259 / SO 239 or else than SMA)
Thanks you so much in advance.
Thank you! I once made a video about a PCB antenna, but maybe on my second channel
Finally someone explained how SWR is expressed in dBi.
Subbed.
Glad it was helpful!
@@AndreasSpiess I measured the 50 Ohm calibration cap with a multimeter. Displayed 52.2 ohms.. .. which is +/-0.5% mistake of my cheap multimeter.
Thank you for this video. I just bought a NanoVNA and so found your video very instructive, especially the points you make about proper calibration.
Glad it was helpful!
This video is an excellent introduction before one goes to W2AEW excellent series. Thanks Andreas.
Definitively the right sequence ;-)
Excellent video and has answered so many questions. I am learning by watching as many videos as I can with the end goal to tune a chip antenna connected to an ESP32. A video where it shows adding capacitors and indictors to improve the antenna performance would be the best.
Best is always to tweak the antenna instead of adding parts... I would go with the instructions of the supplier. And google for "PCB Antenna - How To Design, Measure And Tune" on RUclips.
Thank you Andreas for this very helpful video! Now I understand the smith-diagram and ordered the hf-demo-kit test board. Very good explanation and easy to understand!
That was the goal. Glad it worked out! Thank you for the feedback.
EXCELLENT introduction to the nano VNA, & one of the best & simplest explanations I've seen on the use of a Smith chart. Thank you, Andreas! I'll be ordering a nano VNA shortly. ;)
You will have a lot of fun with it, I am sure!
Thanks for the inspiring video which will motivate many viewers to measure more in this "magic RF" field.
You are welcome. I thought, many Makers use such devices, but sometimes do not know how to use them. It is a little more complex than just a DVM...
Thank you Andreas for this excellent video. You present topics in a clear and concise manner that make it easy to understand. We need a Kahn Academy for ham radio. Andreas Academy!
For me, RUclips is like an academy with excellent teachers. Maybe not easy to find sometimes...
Thanks Andreas, now hovering over the buy button as it looks fascinating, and I have one old router antennae (salvage) I want to use on a D1 mini pro to see if I can boost the wifi reception....
It is always good to know which antennas you can throw away and which to keep. It saves space...
Always learn something new every time I re-watch your videos! What is that small PCB shown at 8:35? Thank you.
It is a PCB for RF experiments. I added a link in the description (no links allowed here)
@@AndreasSpiess Thank you, very much appreciate your quick reply!
You're a good teacher...RF Engineers still say VSWR (pron. viswar) for antenna line tests btw.. at the least the ones with more than 10 years experience...Return loss is more used for PIM testing results... i think...at least in North America
Viswar for me sounds like Pissoir (German word for urinal). I do not like this pronunciation ;-)
Excellent content and presentation Andreas. I didn’t realise these nano VNAs were so affordable.
This is a quite new trend.
Love your videos Andreas. I supervise a 1 megawatt TV transmission station in the United States. And although your video says we would use the term "Return Loss", trust me when I say our equipment is labeled "VSWR" and we pronounce it "viz-waar".
Interesting! I do not like your pronounciation because it sounds like "pissoir", a mens toilet in French (and Swiss German). That is why I do not use it ;-)
That's funny. I have heard that french before. I'm getting started with Meshtastic and I'm going to put a T beam on a 180 ft tower. If that goes well, I may end up putting another on a tower that goes all the way up to 2,000 ft off the ground. I wonder though, is there a point where putting a node that high hits a point of diminishing returns.
@@RyanMcDonald The higher, the better. 868 or 915 work on the line of sight. They mounted transmitters on balloons and even on satellites ;-)
Excellent presentation. But I would point out 2 general things anout antenna measurement. When measuring small unbalanced HT-style antennas, the physical dimensions of the metallic structure they are attached to WILL affect measurements. In addition, good measured return loss/SWR is no guarantee of good radiation performance. If that were true, a dummy load would be a superb antenna! Characterising overall antenna performance is NOT an easy task!
You are right. We try to do our best with handhelds...
Yes - I agree with your caption "Mandatory for Makers"! Thanks for a very informative video. 73s
You are welcome! 73 de HB9BLA
I've had one of these for a few months and it's handy for a lot of radio-related things. The only application I've stumbled over that's way outside its range is the video antennas on my mini FPV quadcopter. Those run around 5Ghz and the antennas get pretty dinged up during crashes. It would be nice to be able to pop them off and do a little re-tune from time to time instead of blindly bending it back till it "looks right" again.
You probably have to wait for another year or so...
Superb explanation of VNA and Smith chart use. Many thanks Andreas!
You are welcome!
Wow! Thanks for this Andreas! This is stuff I've desperately wanted to understand for years!
Glad it was helpful!
I know nothing about antennas. The little I know Im learning from you . Thank you.
I am trying to build a v-dipole to receive noaa Satellites images.
My reception so far is terrible. not to say none.
What I discover so far using the VNA is that the reflection and the swr change with the position of the antenna...
Not an easy task to adjust it...
I cannot believe that a bad SWR is responsible for non-reception. I would search also in other areas. And yes, antenna properties change with the environment.
Didn't think I needed to watch this one, but indeed I have been using mine wrong. Thank you!
As written in the thumbnail: Viewing is mandatory ;-) I made this video because a lot of people do one or the other mistakes.
@@AndreasSpiess 😄 you were right!
fantastic , just bought one , now I shall use it with confidence . Thank you for another great video.
I hope you will enjoy it!
Excellent work, thank you very much for your time in making this video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Andreas, Thank-you so much for your lucid explanations anchored in reality. And thanks for introducing me to the VNA. Best.
Glad you liked the content!
As usual from you excellent explantions and demos of what you do. I learnt some info that I should have known but didnt. Thanks again
You are probably not the only. It was the same with me. This was the reason for this video.
Thank you very much for this! I have been looking forward to see how NanoVNA V2 behaves.
You are welcome!
Good explanation on VNA use.
Alot cheaper than R&S equipment,makes it ideal for the hobbyist.
My first HP VNA 3Ghz cost £6k 15 years ago,shows how technology and cost as improved.
VNA for 5G operating at 26GHz and 39Ghz £40K upwards!!
Thank you. We should not directly compare those professional tools with these VNAs, I think. They have their markets. But for us Makers, these cheap buggers can answer most of our questions.
Just watched this as I purchased a cheap nanovna version 1 from aliexpress
I ordered it before I realised there was a better version available
Still it should be good enough for my needs for now
Depends which frequencies you use, the V1 is good.
I have a MiniVNA and i'm quite happy with it. Helped me to optimize some PCB designs in the past. Did not know about that RF-Demo PCB tho, that is definately something i need to get for a better calibration option on the u.FL connector side of my adapter cables.
I have no idea how good the calibrations are on the PCB. But at least it helped to show the traces as drawn on the Demo PCB...
Thank you Andreas as this cleared up a lot of things. The calibration issue worries me however as adapters are needed in most every case, Im not certain how one would know what or how a correction factor/s are used and/or needed to get accurate results.
You will rarely need a correction factor because it is usually possible to calibrate at the reference plane.
Extremely useful video. I finally learned what a Smith Chart measures! Very clear explanations and though I don't have use for a NanoVNA currently, it's amazing what this $50 device can do!
It is truly amazing! And it is good to know how to use it to get good results. So you already have the know how when you will get one...
Wow. I wish all explanations of the Smith chart were that clear. Thanks!!
Glad you liked it. Thank you!
Very good concise explanation. A great help as I've just purchased a NanoVNA-F. Thanks
I hope you will have fun with it!
I almost understand everything you presented. That is not because i am smart but that is because you lectured it great! Thank you very much :)
Thank you for your kind words!
I am glad you coverd this aspect. I was thinking of purchasing the NanoVna 2 but the new version with N connectors was released so I was not sure which one is better :)
All seem to have the same PCB. I would chose according the connectors I use more often.
@@AndreasSpiess the N connectors are preferred as they are more sturdy and can be used in the fields without any fear of breaking off the small SMA connectors from the PCB.
Thanks for the appreciation. You are all doing the great job of teaching. We owe you a lot.
Excellent video! So much practical information provided. Thank you! Btw. just got myself a LibreVNA, will have some fun after I grasp fundamentals like the ones you talked about.
I am sure you will like your VNA!
Yay - Time to get my weekly 'Andreas' fix. Full screen, Coffee on, Feet up. 👍
Enjoy!
Thank you Andreas this information was extremely valuable and wonderfully put. You give the basic information that is required to understand the units. I have not found anything else like this!!👀⭐️⭐️⭐️
Glad it was helpful! I hope you enjoy your nanoVNA...
Nice video and very good explanation! Only let me point out a small mistake: when you measure in a frequency range at 10:45 you say that you see a curve in the Smith chart because capacitors and inductors change with frequency. It would be more accurate to say that their IMPEDANCE change with frequency. You will observe that curve even if C and L are independent of frequency.
You are right, of course.
Extremely interesting video, I learned a lot, thank you! I will use my NanoVNA more efficiently :-) I also use it for measuring cable loss by connecting them between 1.1 and 2.1.
Glad it was helpful!
A superb video for VNA newcommers to understand what it is all about
Thank you. And thank you for your help producing it!
Very informative video thanks. I love my Nano VNA and I've already thrown away some antennas which claimed specifications which were false
Glad it was helpful!
Very good job Mister Andreas !. However one important point is missing...(I've not yet read the 215 comments already posted): what about the dBm levels sent on Port 1 and the max level allowed on port2 ? Some people may try to use this small device for testing an LNA and ruin the Port2 Input. A short advice on these points would have been welcome.
You should find this number in the data sheet. I did not cover LNAs because the video already was long...